Abstract
Bioretention is a method of storm water management that includes several processes following the natural hydrological cycle. Bioretention, or variations of it, include rain gardens and bioswales, infiltrates, filtrates, evapotranspirates, and help to store and manage storm water run-off. A bioretention cell retains water, removes pollutants, and provides water elements for urban green areas. Although bioretention is a promising method for multifunctional storm water management, its construction details should not be copied from other climatic areas. A direct application may dismiss local conditions, materials, and construction practices. This study aimed to adapt construction details for bioretention to Finnish local practices and conditions and to formulate bioretention constructions that balance water, soil, and vegetation. First, construction details were reviewed, then local adaptations were applied, and finally, the application and two variations of growing media in two construction depths were tested in a test field in Southern Finland. Sandy growing media allowed the efficient retention of water during the first year, but failed to provide vital growth. The use of topsoil and compost in the growing media improved growth, but held high electrical conductivity after infiltration. All the experimental cells in the test field showed activity during the melting periods, both during winter and spring. If bioretention plays a multifunctional role in urban design and engineered ecology, the design parameters should not only focus on storm water quantity, but also on quality management and vegetation growth.
Highlights
Urbanization, urban densification, has increased the proportion of impermeable surfaces to precipitation
This study aimed to develop construction details for bioretention that are applicable to Finnish conditions
This paper reports on the construction details and the results of the test field functioning after the implementation phase from a test field where different growing media and construction depths were monitored together with vegetation cover in comparable conditions
Summary
Urbanization, urban densification, has increased the proportion of impermeable surfaces to precipitation. Precipitation and surface runoff have fewer possibilities to infiltrate, and the natural water cycle is disturbed. The increase of impermeable surfaces and climate change mean that cities must study and apply new approaches to storm water management. Sustainable urban drainage (SUDS), and other related concepts such as low impact development (LID) and water sensitive urban design (WSUD) have focused on this new type of storm water management [2]. SUDS applies to urban design, amenities, community enhancement, and vegetation as well as conventional quality and quantity management. Best management practices of these concepts enhance the visible water surface, detention, and slow infiltration after a rain event. SUDS provides the possibility to enhance community-based activities, public participation, and the proportion of urban green
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